Merry With a Scrooge (The Love Beach Holiday Collection)

18. Laney

Epilogue - New Year’s Eve

“I’m glad we decided to have a quiet night instead of joining everyone else,” I say as I snuggle deeper into Vail’s arms.

Van went out for the count about twenty minutes ago in spite of his assurances he wanted to stay up until midnight. We haven’t bother to move him to his bed yet. Probably won’t until after midnight.

He’s obviously comfortable sprawled out on the couch if his little snores are a clue. And at least he’ll be able to say he didn’t go to bed before the New Year.

Not that a four-year-old should be wanting to party the night away.

We can thank his birth mother for him even knowing what December 31 st means.

I say birth mother because five days ago, Felicity Turner signed away her parental rights to Van. She did it because she’s looking at a long time behind bars and Vail sweetened the pot with the promise of a good defense lawyer, although I doubt the best could reduce her time in jail with the number of charges against her.

“I know why I’m happy to be at home, but I thought for sure you would want to be next door celebrating with your family.” Vail tightens his hold as he speaks.

“Nope. I like it right here.”

“How did you convince Vivi to go then?”

“Oh, that was easy. I enlisted Luna and Gram. That girl didn’t stand a chance.”

“I hope you’re not trying to matchmake.”

“Who me? Never!” I glance up at him and grin. “But I can’t say the same for Luna or Gram.”

“Oh shit. Should I warn Easton?”

“You’re kidding right? The man can’t take his eyes off her whenever they’re in the same room.”

“I’ve never known him to be so focused on a woman.” Vail scrubs a hand over his stubbled jaw. “Is it bad that I want to head up to bed? The last year has been exhausting and I’m sure the new one isn’t going to be much better. We’ve got so much to do. So much going on.”

He doesn’t know the half of it. “Nope. It’s not bad. Want to carry Van up? I’ll turn all the lights out and follow.”

“You don’t want to wait up for Luna and Vivi?”

“No. They’re adults, they have a key, and I’ve got you all to myself for a few hours.” I smile.

“Let me get Van upstairs, then I’ll help shut down the house.” Vail lifts me off him and turns to scoop Van into his arms.

I’ll never get enough of seeing the look in Vail’s eyes when he picks up his son. I watch them go knowing they’re mine. I might only be Van’s stepmother, but I’ll be the only mother figure in his life and that’s enough.

It amazes me how much I love that little guy in only a few weeks. I can’t imagine what I’ll be like when he’s an adult. The thought of him going to school next year already has me tearing up.

“Hey, you’re still on the couch?” Vail leans over the back of me. “You all right?”

“Yes. Just thinking about Van going to school.”

“I can’t believe he’s that age already.” He straightens and moves around the couch to stand in front of me. “I have a late Christmas present for you.”

“A what?” It’s only then I notice the roll of papers tied with a red ribbon in his hand. I laugh. “You know, for a while there I thought I was going to have to kick your Scroogey butt.”

“I wish you had. Then maybe we’d have gotten to this point sooner.”

“I think it went the way it was supposed to.”

“Maybe.” He looks at his hand. “This is…” He swallows roughly but doesn’t say anything things else.

“What is it?”

“Here.” He holds out the roll and I don’t know why but I hesitate, my eyes locked on his. I must wait too long because Vail laughs and says, “It won’t bite and I promise you, you will love this.”

I believe him. He’d never lie. Except this feels momentous and I can’t work out why.

Taking the roll, I slowly unravel it, my eyes skimming words as they come into view. My hands and eyes freeze when the word adoption jumps out at me.

I suck in a breath and promptly choke. I’m coughing and spluttering and trying to breathe while tears stream down my face.

“Well. Not quite the reaction I thought I’d get.”

I look up at my husband, a snotty, wet mess and I don’t care about getting all that goop on his clothes or him because right this second I need to be in his arms.

Dropping the papers next to me, I spring off the couch and wrap myself around him. “Thank you. I love you. I love him. Thank you.”

“We love you too. Oh, and you might want to carry tissues with you from now on. The little guy wanted to stay up until midnight because I told him after that he can call you mom.”

I sob into my husband’s neck and wonder how the hell my life could be this good. It’s everything I dreamed of and more.

And in the morning, I’ll tell my husband and son my own secret. For the three of us the New Year is all about new beginnings and what better way than to add to our family.

In a little over seven months Van will be a big brother, and Vail will be a father for the second time.

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